Advocating diverse and flexible workplaces

In order to enter and remain in employment, many people need flexible working arrangements. The reasons for this vary from balancing work with caring or parental responsibilities, accommodating a health condition or disability, graduated return to work for people with illness or injury, phased retirement from the workforce, or continuing in paid employment while engaging in further education or establishing viable self employment.

The ability to work on a flexible basis can assist an individual who has been out of work to build their confidence, regain routine and structure, acquire a recent or more relevant employer reference, and progress to full-time employment if appropriate. It can also assist those who are in work to manage periods of stress or personal challenges in order to remain in employment. We work with employers to ensure that these different functions of part-time work are recognised and valued.

We know that being financially better off in work is a primary concern for most benefit claimants. Clearly demonstrating to an individual how work will increase their income is an essential element of our service. While workless individuals may recognise the broader social and developmental benefits of working, they are unlikely to be in a position to accept work that would make them financially worse off.

In addition, we work with employers to help them understand the benefits of a diverse workforce – employing people from varying age groups, ethnicities, and circumstances, as well as people with disabilities or health conditions. In many cases, this involves advocating on behalf of our clients and influencing thinking to ensure employers, like us, focus on what people can do rather than what they cannot.